According to the American Physical Therapy Association, 1 in 5 adults in the United States suffered from chronic pain in the past three months(opens in a new tab). If you're one of the many people living with chronic pain, you know how debilitating and frustrating it can be.
You may have tried medication, rest, and other treatments without seeing much relief. If you're looking for an alternative treatment option that can help you manage your chronic pain and improve your quality of life, physical therapy at Performance UNLIMITED may be the solution you've been searching for.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is defined as any pain that lasts longer than three to six months or beyond the normal healing time of an injury or illness. Chronic pain can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, and endometriosis. Chronic pain can also be the result of an injury or surgery.
However, it's important to note that chronic pain often occurs when there's little to no tissue damage. This can make it difficult to decrease pain or find total pain relief, since the pain is not coming from a specific injury or condition. Rather, the pain is a result of nerve damage or changes in the way the brain processes pain signals.
How Can A Physical Therapist Help?
Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are movement experts who can help you manage your chronic pain and improve your quality of life. Your physical therapist will work with you to create a custom treatment plan to help you manage pain and restore physical function.
There are a variety of different types of physical therapy, including pediatric physical therapy, geriatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports physical therapy, neurological physical therapy, electrical stimulation, light therapy, and more.
However, your physical therapy treatment plan will likely include a combination of exercises, manual therapy techniques, strength training, and education on pain management. Exercise is an important part of chronic pain management, as it can help to increase endorphins (the body's natural pain relievers), improve joint function, and reduce inflammation.
Manual therapy techniques, such as massage and trigger point release, can also help to relieve pain and improve range of motion. Strength training has many benefits, as it's important for overall health and can help to reduce pain by improving posture and alignment.
In addition to physical therapy interventions, your physical therapist will also provide you with education on pain management. This may include advice on how to modify activities to avoid pain, tips for managing stress, and information on other pain management strategies.
At Performance UNLIMITED, our physical therapists are experts in chronic pain management. Our founder, Dan Glatz, received his physical therapy degree at the University of Pittsburgh and has been working with patients for over 20 years. Dan believes in treating the entire patient, not just one area of injury. At Performance UNLIMITED, we're proud to empower our patients to reach their unlimited potential!
What Can I Expect From Physical Therapy Treatment?
During your first physical therapy appointment, you'll undergo an initial evaluation. That means you'll get to meet your physical therapist and discuss your pain, medical history, and goals for physical therapy. Your physical therapist will also perform a physical examination to assess your strength, range of motion, and flexibility.
Some of these assessments might cause your pain to increase or decrease; you'll want to keep your physical therapists informed on what you're feeling. These tests will help your physical therapist create a custom treatment plan that's tailored to your specific needs.
After the initial evaluation, you'll begin your custom physical therapy treatment. Your roadmap may include exercises, manual therapy techniques, trigger point release, and more. Your physical therapist will progress your treatment as you get stronger and your pain decreases.
How Can I Get Started With Performance UNLIMITED?
It's time to stop looking for physical therapy locations in Pittsburgh; Performance UNLIMITED is right here! With an online scheduling tool and a convenient physical therapy clinic in Wexford, we make it easy for patients to get the care they need.
If you're ready to relieve your chronic pain, schedule an appointment with the experts at Performance UNLIMITED today!
